Guilty Plea in Attempted Murder Machete Attack

Modified: February 12, 2019 9:54am

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2/11/2019

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 47-year-old Vivian Rodriguez of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “B” felony, and to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class “E” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against her.

On September 6, 2018, at approximately 6 a.m., the defendant attempted to cause the death of her boyfriend while acting in concert with another person. The defendant allowed the individual to enter her boyfriend’s 10th Street home in the City of Buffalo. That individual attempted to strike the victim with a machete. During the struggle, the attacker was subsequently killed by the victim.

In an attempt to eliminate any video evidence of the crime, the defendant removed the victim’s security camera from the home and placed it inside her vehicle.

Rodriguez faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when she is sentenced on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. She remains remanded without bail.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work by the Buffalo Police, including Detective Chris Sterlace and Officer Maurice Foster.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.